Adulterated ‘edible’ oil seized in Villapuram

In a surprise check in a private godown near Villapuram Housing Board Colony here on Thursday, the officials unearthed adulterated edible oil packed in 500 ml plastic containers and kept in over 150 boxes – each box carrying 20 plastic containers.

Following complaints from consumer forum members about sale of adulterated edible oil, District Collector L. Subramanian ordered the officials to take action. A special team comprising officials drawn from Revenue Department, District Supply Office, Food Safety wing and Commercial Taxes Department was formed.

After locating the unit adulterating oil, about 50 officials surrounded the premises. The officials found that the operator of the unit, I.M. Selvaraj, was adulterating oil.

Mixing 20 per cent of groundnut and gingely oil, and 80 per cent of palm oil, Selvaraj was selling it in 500 ml plastic containers as gingely oil under the brand name of ‘Vetrivel’ and ‘Thanga Mayil’.

Selvaraj was procuring oil in bulk from traders in Virudhunagar district. Around 20 workers were engaged in the operation every day. According to Joint Director (Agriculture) Jayasingh Gnanadurai, Selvaraj admitted to having a network spanning the southern districts and parts of Kerala. It is likely that he may be selling substandard oil at least for a year.

The samples have been taken by Food Safety Officer Sujatha for examination. RDO Arumugam recorded the statement of Selvaraj, and Commercial Tax officials, led by Joint Commissioner (Enforcement) Illango, assessed the purchase and sales recorded by him.

Food safety officers confiscate seven parcels of mawa

Continuing its drive against unlabelled sweets and ‘farsan’ coming into the State the food safety officers of the Goa Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) confiscated seven parcels containing mawa/kalakanand from the Vasco railways station on Wednesday.

The parcels were brought for delivery to certain sweet mart vendors in Vasco city for preparing sweets ahead of upcoming annual Ganesh festival. The quantity of mawa/ kalakanand brought into Goa via railways was 263 kg, estimated at Rs. 40,000.

The consignment was booked by the Railways from Miraj to Vasco for delivery to certain dairy/sweet marts in Vasco and the FDA was on the look out for such arrival or entry of such consignments into the State for last several days and managed to detain the consignment on a tip off received by the Department. Director of FDA Salim Veljee said on Wednesday evening that the entire consignment did not carry any label disclosing the name and address of the manufacturers, nor any label declaration about its nutritional value, manufacture date, best before use, or other essential labelling requirements prescribed under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

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Consignment did not disclose the makers’ name

Mawa had not been kept in cold storage

Vendors to face legal action

If found involved in manufacturing misbranded tea powder

Adulterated tea packets that were seized in Salem on Thursday.

Officials of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India will file a case in the court against those involved in manufacturing and distributing tea powder that is found to be misbranded and unsafe for human consumption.

During an inspection at a godown in Omalur six months ago, team led by T. Anuradha, District Designated Officer, Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department, found adulterated tea powder packets kept for distribution. Officials seized 250 kg of tea powder and notice was also issued to the vendor V. Selvam. The samples were sent to Food Analysis Laboratory in Guindy, Chennai that confirmed it as ‘unsafe’. But the vendor went on appeal and hence another sample was sent to referral laboratory in Kolkata which also confirmed it as unsafe. Hence, health officials sought permission from the Food Safety Commissioner for initiating legal action against the vendor, his wife S. Bagyalakshmi, who is the licence holder and the manufacturer V. Nibhana of Ayanavaram, Chennai.

Hence, health officials would be filing the case in the court in Omalur on Friday seeking action against the three under Section 52 (misbranding) and 59 (unsafe) of The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. If found guilty for misbranding, the accused may be liable to a penalty which may extend to Rs. 3 lakh and imprisonment for six months and fine up to Rs. 1 lakh for manufacturing or storing or distributing food items for human consumption which is unsafe. Ms. Anuradha told The Hindu that they raided Selvam’s house on Wednesday and found the unsafe tea powder packets with new brand name kept for distribution. “We have seized 107 kg of tea packets. This would be first time in the State that a case is to be registered under the act since implementation”, she added.

Packaged water firms revoke decision

Members of the Tamil Nadu Packaged Drinking Water Manufacturers Association have withdrawn the decision to surrender the licences provided by Bureau of Indian Standards to operate drinking water units. A.Shakespeare, the association’s general secretary, said that the decision was withdrawn as officials of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India have assured them that action will be taken against units that sell ‘herbal’ and ‘flavoured’ water without any licence.

மசாலா தோசையில் கரப்பான் பூச்சி திருவனந்தபுரத்தில் ஓட்டலுக்கு சீல்

திருவனந்தபுரம், செப். 6:

திருவனந்தபுரத்திலுள்ள ஒரு ஓட்டலில் சாப்பிட வந்தவருக்கு வழங்கப்பட்ட மசாலா தோசையில் கரப்பான் பூச்சி கிடந்தது. இதையடுத்து உணவு பாதுகாப்புத்துறை அதிகாரிகள் சோதனை நடத்தி அந்த ஓட்டலுக்கு சீல் வைத்தனர். அதோடு அந்த ஓட்டலுக்கு ரூ.10 ஆயிரம் அபராதம் விதித்தனர்.

திருவனந்தபுரத்திலுள்ள ஒரு அசைவ ஓட்டலில், கடந்த ஆண்டு சிக்கன் ஷவர்மா சாப்பிட்ட கல்லூரி மாணவர் திடீரென இறந்தார். இதையடுத்து, உணவு பாதுகாப்புத்துறை அதிகாரிகள் அந்த ஓட்டலில் நடத்திய பரிசோதனையில், அந்த மாணவருக்கு வழங்கப்பட்ட உணவு மிகவும் சுகாதாரமற்ற முறையில் தயாரிக்கப்பட்டது தெரியவந்தது. இதையடுத்து அந்த ஓட்டலுக்கு சீல் வைக்கப்பட்டது.

இந்த சம்பவத்துக்கு பிறகு, கேரளா முழுவதும் உணவு பாதுகாப்புத்துறை அதிகாரிகள் சோதனை நடத்தி, சுகாதாரமற்ற முறையில் உணவு தயாரிக்கும் ஓட்டல்களுக்கு சீல் வைத்து வருகின்றனர். இந்த சோதனையில் கேரளாவில் பெரும்பாலான ஓட்டல்கள் சுகாதரமற்ற முறையில் செயல்பட்டு வருவது தெரியவந்தது.

நேற்று முன்தினம், திருவனந்தபுரம் வழுதக்காட்டிலுள்ள ஒரு சைவ ஓட்டலுக்கு விமானப்படை அதிகாரியான ராஜேந்திரன் என்பவர் சாப்பிட சென்றார். அவர் மசாலா தோசைக்கு ஆர்டர் செய்தார். சிறிது நேரத்தில் மசாலா தோசை வந்தது. ஆவலுடன் அதை ராஜேந்திரன் சாப்பிட முயன்றபோது, மசாலாவுக்குள் ஒரு இறந்த கரப்பான் பூச்சி கிடந்தது. இதைப் பார்த்து அதிர்ச்சியடைந்த ராஜேந்திரன், உடனடியாக ஓட்டல் ஊழியர்களிடம் விவரத்தை கூறினார். ஆனால் ஓட்டல் ஊழியர்கள் அலட்சியமாக பதிலளித்ததாக கூறப்படுகிறது.

இதையடுத்து ராஜேந்திரன் உணவு பாதுகாப்புத்துறை அதிகாரிகளுக்கு போன் மூலம் தகவல் தெரிவித்தார். உணவு பாதுகாப்புத் துறை ஆய்வாளர் சிவகுமார் தலைமையில் அதிகாரிகள் விரைந்து வந்து அந்த ஓட்டலில் பரிசோதனை நடத்தினர். இதில் அந்த ஓட்டலில் மிகவும் அசுத்தமான சூழ்நிலையில் உணவு தயாரிக்கப்பட்டது தெரியவந்தது. மேலும் சமையலறை அருகிலேயே கழிப்பறையும் இருந்தது. இதையடுத்து, அந்த ஓட்டலுக்கு ரூ.10,000 ஆயிரம் விதித்த அதிகாரிகள், ஓட்டலையும் பூட்டி சீல் வைத்தனர்.

DINAMALAR NEWS

Fast food set to be red-flagged in schools' menus by Dec

FSSAI will put the draft guidelines in front of a seven-member expert committee

In what would alter the consumption pattern of products such as burgers, pizzas, sandwiches, snack foods and soft drinks in schools, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is putting in place final guidelines to determine what counts as healthy food in educational institutions.
The guidelines, to be released by December this year, would categorise food items commonly sold and consumed in schools under segments such as junk food, street food, nutritional food and unhealthy food. The move, according to those in the know, is aimed at helping children inculcate good eating habits.
FSSAI would present its draft guidelines before a seven-member expert committee. The final set of guidelines would be formulated taking into account recommendations of the committee, sources said.

JUNKING JUNK FOOD

• FSSAI is framing a final set of guidelines that will categorise food items  commonly sold and consumed in schools under segments such as junk food, street food, nutritional food and unhealthy food
• The aim is to promote healthy food habits among children
• Food safety activists say the step is important since packaged food & beverage companies have been aggressively targeting kids
• Multinationals such as Coca-Cola and PepsiCo refute that saying they do not market their products to children below 12 years
• Coke, Pepsi alongwith Cadbury, Hindustan Unilever, Nestle, Kellogg’s, General Mills and Mars are part of the group of companies that have pledged to promote good dietary habits among young children

Executives at Coca-Cola and PepsiCo say they do not market carbonated drinks to children in primary and secondary schools. Products such as Maaza are available in secondary schools only on demand. Packaged water by the two companies is available in both primary and secondary schools.
Activist bodies such as the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) say the food regulator’s move is important, given the lack of adequate food safety and labelling standards in India. Chandra Bhushan, deputy director, CSE, says, “While the step is welcome, the draft guidelines, in my view, need to specifically address food-labelling issues. Also, there is rampant consumption of junk and street food right outside schools. Though the draft guidelines speak of regulating the sale of these food items within 500 yards of schools, strict implementation is essential.”
Last year, after a two-month study, CSE had said fast food and snacks such as PepsiCo’s Lays and Haldiram’s Aloo Bhujiya contained dangerous levels of trans-fat and salt. “Sugar, salt and fat are items that need to be regulated. This means governments have to step in to control the powerful processed-food industry. But this is not happening in India,” it had said.
Coca-Cola and PepsiCo say they are already part of an eight-member club of companies in India that has pledged to promote healthy dietary habits among children. The group, formed three years ago, also includes Hindustan Unilever, Nestle, Kellogg’s, General Mills, Mars and Cadbury. These firms have decided not to advertise to children below 12 years and desist from commercial communication of their food & beverage products in primary schools, except for products that fulfil specific nutrition criteria or those requested by or agreed to by school administrators.

New Rule To Ban Junk Food in Indian Schools, Expert Panel Formed To Set Guidelines

 

Bangalore: Children in India will soon find it difficult to go to school due to a new reason. The Health Ministry has recently told the Delhi High Court that it has framed guidelines on regulating the sale of junk food in and around school premises, reports Harish V Nair for Hindustan Times.
Food items such as sandwiches, pizzas, chips, burgers, noodles, french fries and aerated soft drinks are going to be banned as told by Research Company, AC Nielsen. It said-”junk foods which contain no proteins or vitamins but which are rich in salt, sugar and high in calories can cause obesity and hypertension among students.”
Additional Solicitor General Rajeeve Mehra said that the panel will have four members of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. Advisor S Dave, product approval director Pradeep Chakraborty, Quality Director K Sandhya, scientist Meenakshi Singh will be a part of it along with one official each from HRD ministry, Health Ministry and National Institute of Nutrition.

Illegal flavoured water units in Coimbatore face closure

 

The HinduEmpty water cans lying on the roof top of a flat after the TN Food Safety and Drug Administration Department issued closure notices to flavoured drinking water units.

They were operating without licence or product approval

The Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department (Food Safety Wing), Coimbatore Unit, on Wednesday issued closure notices to three flavoured water manufacturing units here for operating without licence or product approval.

The action follows an instruction, issued on Monday, by Food Safety Commissioner Kumar Jayanth, to implement a judgment of the National Green Tribunal’s Southern Zone to close water manufacturing units operating without the approval of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

Many water manufacturing units labelled their products as ‘flavoured’ or ‘herbal.’. These were not covered under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which had set stringent standards only for ‘mineral’ and ‘packaged’ water, both of which must have ISI accreditation issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards.

Following the NGT judgment, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board was directed to take water samples of all such water manufacturing units, regardless of the labelling, across the State. Such samples were taken from 62 units in Coimbatore district, of which only three companies had not obtained any approval.

R. Kathiravan, Designated Officer, Coimbatore, told The Hindu that notices were issued to Amohha Flavoured Water, a product of Jayaram Industries, Season Dew Flavoured Water packaged at Pappanaickenpalayam by GJX Aqua Industries and H2OOH packaged at Annur at Sri Balaji Water Industries. “We have asked these three units as to why they should not be closed down within one week since they had not obtained ‘No-objection Certificates’ from the Food Safety Wing or clearance under FSSA,” he said.

A drive would soon be launched to close down all illegal water packaging units in the city. Anyone having information on illegal water manufacturing units operating in the city could mail the information to the e-mail id: dofssacbe@gmail.com. All information would be kept in confidence and action taken, assured Dr. Kathiravan.

Guidelines on junk food sale in schools to be out by December

Food safety regulator FSSAI will put the draft guidelines framed by it in front of a seven-member expert committee. The final guidelines will be out post that

In a move that will alter the consumption of products such as burgers, pizzas, sandwiches, snack foods and soft drinks in schools, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is putting in place final guidelines to determine what constitutes healthy and unhealthy food in educational institutions.
The guidelines, which will be out by December this year, will categorise food items commonly sold and consumed in schools under segments such as junk food, street food, nutritional food and unhealthy food. The endeavour, according to persons in the know, is intended to help children inculcate good eating habits.
FSSAI will put the draft guidelines framed by it recently in front of a seven-member expert committee. The final set of guidelines will be formulated taking into account the recommendations by the expert committee, persons in the know said.
Executives at Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, however, say they do not market carbonated drinks to children in primary and secondary schools. Juice drinks such as Maaza, on the other hand, are available only on demand in secondary schools. Packaged water though is kept both in primary and secondary schools by the two companies.
Activist bodies such as the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) say the move by the food regulator is important given the lack of adequate food safety and labeling standards in India. Chandra Bhushan, deputy director, CSE, says, "While the step is welcome, the draft guidelines in my view need to specifically address food labeling issues. There is also rampant consumption of junk and street food happening right outside schools. The draft guidelines do speak of regulating sale of these food items within 500 yards of schools, but strict implementation has to be there."
Last year, CSE had found fast food meals and snacks such as PepsiCo's Lays and Haldiram's Aloo Bhujiya containing dangerous levels of trans fats and salt in a two-month study done by it. At that time, CSE had said, "Sugar, salt and fat are items that need to be regulated. This means governments have to step in to control the powerful processed food industry. But this is not happening in India."
Coca-Cola and PepsiCo say they are already part of an eight-member club of companies in India, which has pledged to promote healthy dietary habits among young children.
The group, which was formed three years ago, includes Hindustan Unilever (HUL), Nestle, Kellogg’s, General Mills, Mars and Cadbury besides Coke and Pepsi. The pledge taken by these companies as part of the endeavour includes no advertising to children below 12 years and desisting from commercial communication of their food & beverage products in primary schools, except for those that fulfill specific nutrition criteria or have been requested by or agreed by the school administrator.

Experts to review norms on sale of junk food

The New Delhi high court on Wednesday allowed the Central government’s plea to let its expert committee examine its draft guidelines on regulating the sale of junk food and aerated drinks in and around schools across the country.
The court’s order came after senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the All India Food Processors’ Association, opposed the draft guidelines of the government and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Manu Singhvi said private agency AC Nielsen QRG-MARG Pvt Ltd, which was engaged by the government for the same, could not be allowed to frame guidelines that would affect the entire nation. He further submitted that “most points in the draft guideline were impractical and vague”.
“At best, AC Nielsen can collect data and assist the Centre but it cannot frame guidelines that will have ramifications across the nation,” Manu Singhvi said. Lambasting the draft guidelines, he said, “One of the guidelines is that the schools should grow vegetables within its premises. Schools today do not have enough space for a playground, how can they grow vegetables,” he said.
The Centre, however, told the Court that it already had a seven-member expert panel in place that could review the guidelines. Representing the government, ASG Rajeev Mehra told the court that the expert committee included members from the government, FSSAI and doctors, and hence would review the draft guidelines within four weeks from now.

FDA seizes Gutkha worth Rs 3L

SATPUR : The Food & Drugs Administration (FDA) has spurred its drive to take legal action against Gutkha, Pan Masala manufacturers and sellers across the district. As a part of this drive, FDA raided a godown of a merchant in Kathe Lane area on Tuesday. Stocks of Gutkha, Pan Masala and Sweet Supari (betel nuts) worth around Rs 3 lakh were seized during this drive. The administration has filed crime in this case with Ambad and Bhadrakali Police Stations. 

After the FDA officials got a secret information about illegal storage and sale of Gutkha, Pan Masala and Supari, they set a trap and arrested Sunil Raghunath Musale. After inspection, the godown owned by Musale was found full of stocks of Guthka packets of brands including Hira, Vimal, Hira Pan Masala, RMD Gutkha, Mogli Supari, Kuber tobacco and other products. Administration seized entire stocks and filed crime against 5 persons owner Raghunath Bhatu Musale, Sunil Raghunath Musale, Sudhakar Musale, Rahul Musale and Ashok Dutonde under Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 and section 328 of IPC. 

Meanwhile, administrative officials also raided a shop at building Kasturi Park in the same area. They seized stocks of Gutkha and other tobacco based products worth Rs 80,000. They have taken Rakesh Deshmukh in custody in this case and filed crime against him. FDA officials including Assistant Commissioner M M Sanap (Zone 1), D S Mahale (Zone 3), Food Safety Officer P S Lohar, N D Mohite, R S Takate, U V Kumbhojkar, R D Suryavanshi, B C Ingale and others conducted these raids under the aegis of Joint FDA Commissioner Chandrakant Pawar and seized the illegal stocks of Gutkha and other tobacco based products.

FSSAI issues new ordinance about labelling system

SATPUR : The Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), New Delhi, has recently issued a new ordinance stating amendments in methods of packaging and labelling of products under Food Safety and Standards Act 2006. Accordingly, the license holders will now have to display their license numbers on labels pasted on packaging of their products. These changes will be implemented after the next six months, FSSAI has added. 

The Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Agriculture (MACCIA) issued a press note in this regard on Tuesday. It has informed that it will be mandatory for the food merchants and traders to display their license numbers along with weight and price of the product on the packaging material. On this backdrop, FSSAI administration has directed all type of license holders to use all their old pattern labels within the next six months as new label method will be implemented immediately after this tenure. 

MACCIA vice-president Santosh Mandlecha has appealed all food traders, merchants, re-packer agencies and other license holders to use all their old labels within the next six months and contact MACCIA office if they have any query about this ordinance.

814 குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்களுக்கு அனுமதி மறுக்கப்பட்ட வழக்கு அக்டோபர் 7க்கு ஒத்திவைப்பு

சென்னை, செப்.5:

குடிநீர் விற்பனை நிறுவனங்களுக்கு அனுமதி வழங்கப்படாதது குறித்த வழக்கு அக்டோபர் 7ம் தேதி ஒத்தி வைக்கப்பட்டது.

அரும்பாக்கத்தில் உள்ள தென்மண்டல பசுமை தீர்ப்பாயம், கடந்த மார்ச் மாதம் தானே முன்வந்து குடிநீர் விற்பனை செய்யும் நிறுவனங்கள் நிலைப்பாடு குறித்து ஆய்வு செய்ய மாசு கட்டுப்பாடு வாரியத்துக்கு உத்தரவிட்டது. இதைதொடர்ந்து, நேற்று நீதிபதி சொக்கலிங்கம் விசாரணை செய்தார்.

அப்போது மாசு கட்டுப்பாடு வாரிய உறுப்பினர் செயலர் பாலாஜி, குடிநீர் விற்பனை ஆலை களை தமிழகம் முழுவதும் ஆய்வு செய்ததில் 814 குடிநீர் விற்பனை நிறுவனங்கள் அனுமதி பெறாமலும், 153 நிறுவனங்கள் அனுமதி பெற்றும் செயல்படுவதாக தெரிவித்தார்.

814 குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்களுக்கு ஏன் அனுமதி வழங்கவில்லை என நீதிபதி கேள்வி எழுப்பினார். அதற்கு 2011ல் உயர் நீதிமன்றத்தில் திருப்பூர் பொதுப்பணி துறை சார்பாக நிலத்தடி நீரை உறிஞ்சி பயன்படுத்துவது குறித்து வழக்கு தொடரப்பட்டது, அந்த வழக்கில் 31&11&2011 அன்று வர்த்தக நோக்கோடு நிலத்தடி நீரை உறிஞ்சக்கூடாது என தீர்ப்பு கூறப்பட்டது. அதன் அடிப்படையில் 814 நிறுவனங்களுக்கு அனுமதி வழங்கவில்லை என்று வாரிய உறுப்பினர் செயலர் தெரிவித்தார். இதையடுத்து வழக்கை அக்டோபர் 7ம் தேதிக்கு நீதிபதி ஒத்தி வைத்தார்.

இது தவிர ஹெர்பல் வாட்டர் விற்பனை நிறுவனங்கள் தொடர்பான வழக்கில், உணவு பாதுகாப்பு தரநிர்ணய உதவி ஆணையர் செல்வா நேற்று ஆஜராகி இந்த கம்பெனிகள் ஒரு ஆண்டில் எவ்வளவு குடிநீரை விற்பனை செய்துள்ளனர். அதன் அளவீடு பொறுத்து மத்திய அரசின் தலைமையின் கீழ் வருகிறதா, மாநில அரசின் தலைமையின் கீழ் வருகிறதா என ஆய்வு செய்து அறிக்கை தரவேண்டியுள்ளது என கூறினார். இந்த வழக்கையும் நீதிபதி, அக்டோபர் 7ம் தேதிக்கு ஒத்தி வைத்தார்.

சேலம் மாவட்டத்தில் முதல் முறையாக போலி டீ தூள் தயாரித்த நிறுவனம், விற்பனையாளர் மீது கோர்ட்டில் வழக்கு உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை நடவடிக்கை

சேலம், செப்.5-தமிழ்நாட்டிலேயே முதல் முறையாக போலி டீ தூள் தயாரித்த நிறுவனம் மற்றும் விற்பனையாளர் மீது கோர்ட்டில் வழக்கு தொடர சேலம் மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை அதிகாரிக்கு உத்தரவு வந்துள்ளது. போலி டீ தூள் சேலம் மாவட்டம் ஓமலூர் அக்ரஹாரம் பகுதியை சேர்ந்த செல்வம் என்பவரது வீட்டில் போலி டீ தூள் விற்பனை செய்யப்படுவதாக சேலம் மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை அதிகாரிகளுக்கு தகவல் கிடைத்தது. இதையடுத்து உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை நியமன அலுவலர் அனுராதா தலைமையில் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை அதிகாரிகள் கடந்த சில மாதங்களுக்கு முன்பு அவரது வீட்டுக்கு சென்று சோதனை மேற்கொண்டனர். அப்போது வீட்டில் இருந்து போலி டீ தூள் ஏஜெண்டுகள் மூலம் விற்பனை செய்யப்பட்டு வந்தது தெரியவந்தது. இதையடுத்து வீட்டில் இருந்த போலி டீ தூளை அதிகாரிகள் கைப்பற்றினர். மேலும் மாதிரிக்காக அங்கிருந்து டீ தூளை எடுத்து சென்னைக்கு அனுப்பி வைத்தனர். வழக்கு தொடர உத்தரவு தற்போது இந்த ஆய்வின் முடிவு வந்துள்ளது. இதில் பொதுமக்கள் இந்த டீ தூளை உபயோக தகுதியற்றது என்று கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது. இதையடுத்து, இந்த டீ தூளை தயாரித்த நிறுவனம் மீதும், போலி டீ தூளை விற்ற விற்பனையாளர் மீது கோர்ட்டில் வழக்குப்பதிவு செய்ய சென்னை உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை ஆணையாளர் குமார் ஜெய்ந்த் சேலம் மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாரிகளுக்கு அனுமதி வழங்கியுள்ளார். சேலம் கோர்ட்டில் இதுகுறித்து உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை நியமன அலுவலர் அனுராதா கூறும் போது, ‘ஓமலூர் பகுதியை சேர்ந்த செல்வம் என்பவர் மீதும், இந்த டீ தூளை தயாரித்த சென்னையை சேர்ந்த நிறுவனம் மீதும் கோர்ட்டில் வழக்கு தொடர ஆணையாளரிடம் இருந்து உத்தரவு வந்துள்ளது. உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துறை மூலம் தமிழ்நாட்டில் முதல் முறையாக கோர்ட்டில் வழக்கு தொடர்வது இதுவே முதல் முறை என்பது குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது. இவர்கள் மீது ஒரு சில நாட்களில் சேலம் கோர்ட்டில் வழக்கு தொடரப்படும். மேலும் அதே நபர் செல்வத்தின் வீட்டில் நேற்று நடந்த சோதனையின் போது 100 கிலோ போலி டீ தூள் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்டது’ என்று கூறினார்.

உணவு தரநிர்ணய ஆணையத்தின் சான்று பெறாத 9 குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்களுக்கு முன் எச்சரிக்கை நோட்டீசு 5 நாட்களுக்குள் மூட உத்தரவு

சேலம், செப்.5-சேலம் மாவட்டத்தில் உணவு தர நிர்ணய ஆணையத்தின் தடையில்லா சான்றிதழ் பெறாத 9 குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்களுக்கு முன் எச்சரிக்கை நோட்டீசு அனுப்பப்பட்டுள்ளது. இவர்கள் நிறுவனத்தை 5 நாட்களுக்குள் மூட வேண்டும் என்று உத்தரவிட்ப்பட்டு உள்ளது.
எச்சரிக்கை நோட்டீசு
சேலம் மாவட்டத்தில் 33 குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்கள் இயங்கி வருகின்றன. இதில் 24 குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்கள் உணவு பாதுகாப்பு தர நிர்ணய சான்று ஐ.எஸ்.ஐ. அங்கீகாரம் பெற்றுள்ளது. மீதமுள்ள குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்கள் மேற்கண்ட அனுமதி பெறாமல் ஹெர்பல் வாட்டர் சங்கத்தில் உறுப்பினராக பதிவு செய்து உள்ளது.இந்த குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்களில் நெல்லிக்காய், வெட்டிவேர், ஜீரா, அதிமதுரம் போன்ற மூலிகைகளை கலந்து சுவையூட்டப்பட்ட நறுமண குடிநீர் என்ற பெயரில் பாட்டில்களில் விற்பனை செய்து வருகின்றனர். இதையடுத்து, தேசிய பசுமை தீர்ப்பாயம் பதிவு செய்யப்படாத குடிநீர் ஆலைகளை மூட வேண்டும் என்று அதிரடியாக உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது.
9 குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்களுக்கு
அதன்படி சேலம் மாவட்டத்தில் 9 குடிநீர் ஆலைகளுக்கு முன் எச்சரிக்கை அறிவிப்பு நோட்டீசு பதிவு தபால் மூலம் அனுப்பப்பட்டுள்ளது. இதுகுறித்து சேலம் மாவட்ட உணவு பாதுகாப்பு நியமன அலுவலர் அனுராதா கூறியதாவது:-பசுமை தீர்ப்பாயத்தின் படி சேலம் மாவட்டத்தில் உணவு தர நிர்ணய ஆணையத்தின் தடையில்லா சான்றிதழ் பெறாத 9 குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்களுக்கு முன் எச்சரிக்கை அறிவிப்பு நோட்டீசு பதிவு தபால் மூலம் அனுப்பப்பட்டுள்ளது. இந்த நோட்டீசு அனுப்பிய நாளில் இருந்து 5 நாட்களுக்குள் இந்த நிறுவனங்களை மூட வேண்டும்.
சீல் வைக்கப்படும்
இல்லையென்றால் அதன் பிறகு அந்த நிறுவனங்களின் உரிமையாளர்கள் மீது உணவு பாதுகாப்பு சட்டத்தின் கீழ் 4 பிரிவுகளில் வழக்குப்பதிவு செய்து நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும். மேலும் அந்த நிறுவனங்களுக்கு உடனடியாக சீல் வைக்கப்படும். குடிநீர் விற்பனை செய்ய கண்டிப்பாக உணவு தரநிர்ணய ஆணையத்தின் தடையில்லா சான்றிதழ் பெற்று இருக்க வேண்டும். இவ்வாறு அவர் கூறினார்.

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தமிழகத்தில் அனுமதியின்றி 814 குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்கள்: தீர்ப்பாயத்தில் மாசுக் கட்டுப்பாட்டு வாரியம் அறிக்கை

சென்னை: "மாநிலம் முழுவதும், 814 குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்கள் அனுமதி பெறாமல் செயல்படுகின்றன' என, பசுமைத் தீர்ப்பாயத்தில், மாசுக்கட்டுப்பட்டு வாரியம் அறிக்கை தாக்கல் செய்தது.

தனியார் குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்களில் இருந்து, விற்பனைக்கு அனுப்பப்படும் குடிநீர் தரமானது இல்லை என, தெரிய வந்ததால், தேசிய பசுமைத் தீர்ப்பாயம் - தென்மண்டலம், தாமாக முன் வந்து வழக்கு பதிந்து, விசாரித்து வருகிறது. இந்த வழக்கு, நீதிபதி சொக்கலிங்கம், பேராசிரியர் நாகேந்திரன் முன்னிலையில் நேற்று விசாரணைக்கு வந்தது. "தமிழகத்தில் உள்ள, 967 குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்களில், 153 நிறுவனங்கள் மட்டுமே வாரிய அனுமதி பெற்றுள்ளன; 814 நிறுவனங்கள் அனுமதி பெறவில்லை. 391 நிறுவன மாதிரி பரிசோதனை முடிவுகள் கிடைத்துள்ளன. 499 நிறுவனங்களின் மாதிரிகளின் பரிசோதனை நடந்து வருகிறது' என, மாசுக்கட்டுப்பாட்டு வாரியம் அறிக்கை தாக்கல் செய்தது. இதில், 814 நிறுவனங்கள்,அனுமதி பெறாதது குறித்து, தீர்ப்பாயம் கேள்வி எழுப்பியது. வர்த்தக ரீதியாக நிலத்தடி நீர் எடுக்க, உயர்நீதி மன்றம் தடை விதித்துள்ளதால் அனுமதிக்கு விண்ணப்பிக்க முடியவில்லை என, குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்கள் சார்பில் தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டது. ஐகோர்ட்டில் நடக்கும் இது தொடர்பான வழக்கில் இணைந்து, குடிநீருக்கு தண்ணீர் எடுப்பது தொடர்பாக, விலக்கு பெறுமாறு குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்களுக்கு அறிவுறுத்தப்பட்டது. மத்திய உணவு பாதுகாப்புத் துறை சார்பில், அதிகாரிகள் விளக்கம் அளித்தனர். அதன்படி, "ஹெர்பல், பிளேவர்டு' குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்கள், முதலில் குடிநீர் உற்பத்திக்கான அனுமதி பெற வேண்டும் என, தீர்ப்பாயம் உத்தரவிட்டது. உற்பத்தி, விற்பனைக்கான தடையை நீக்க மறுத்த தீர்ப்பாயம், விசாரணையை, அடுத்த மாதம், 7ம் தேதிக்கு ஒத்தி வைத்தது.

Food safety drive from today

1,000 samples of every food item to be tested across State in view of Onam

Food safety inspections will be made more stringent as it has come to the notice of the Health Department that adulterated or substandard food items are increasingly reaching the State from across the border with the start of the festive season.

Special squads of the Food Safety wing have started inspections across the State as part of a pre-festival drive to ensure food safety. The officials have started testing samples of coconut oil coming through check-posts following widespread complaints that engine oil, converted into white oil, was being used to adulterate coconut oil. A private firm at Palakkad was closed down by the food safety officials on Tuesday in this connection.

Testing of samples of milk has been made stringent as increased quantities of milk will be brought into the State in view of the festival season. During the last Onam season, the Food Safety wing had detected widespread use of formalin to preserve milk.

Steps have been taken to collect statutory samples of ghee, jaggery, chilli powder, fruits, vegetables, payasam mix, pickles, meat, and cashew nut and send these for lab testing.

The services of laboratories in universities and other government enterprises will be utilised for testing the food samples.

In a State-wide intensive food safety drive being launched on Thursday, over 1,000 samples of every food item will be tested across the State. This is the first time since the inception of the Food Safety wing that such a widespread food safety inspection is being held, an official release said.

800 packaged water units in state illegal TNPCB: 90% Of Firms Don’t Have Consent To Operate

Chennai:The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has in a shocking revelation informed the southern bench of the National Green Tribunal that more than 800 packaged drinking water units in the state are illegal.
    Among the companies that lack ‘consent to operate’ are 144 in Chennai and towns nearby. The board said it conducted quality checks at 967 units and found that 814 did not have consent to operate, prompting the bench to ask why TNPCB had not taken action against the illegal units.
    Amajority of the units have licences from the Bureau of Indian Standards but not the mandatory consent to operate from TNPCB.
    The board on Wednesday submitted a report to the tribunal stating that 16 units in the Chennai region, 73 in Ambattur, 30 in Sriperumbudur, and 25 in Tiruvallur operated without government consent. Tests by the board and the food safety and drug departments revealed that only 86 units provided safe drinking water. They declared water from 35 units as substandard (but not unsafe), eight as substandard and 15 as unsafe.
    PCB joint chief environment engineer S Selvam, who was present during the hearing on Wednesday, reported that the board had issued showcause notices to all 814 units even before the tribunal took cognizance of the issue.
    The bench said the notices appeared to serve no purpose and expressed shock over the illegal units. “The figure is alarming. Only 10% of the units in the state have consent to operate. You have not closed even a single unit. Who is responsible for this,” the bench asked. “The units have been flouting the rules for decades. What have you been doing?” it said. “The Water Act is completely flouted in the state. This is dereliction of duty.”
    Abench of the tribunal consisting of Justice M Chockalingam and expert member R Nagendran had in March taken suo motu cognizance of pollution in packaged drinking water in Chennai and other cities in the state and directed TNPCB and the food safety department to conduct tests.
    The bench took note of the contention that the units had submitted applications for consent to the board, but the board returned them due to an order issued by a division bench of the Madras high court in 2011, restraining the government from granting consent to extract groundwater for commercial purposes till the Tamil Nadu Groundwater (Development and Management) Act, 2003 is notified.
    Tamil Nadu Packaged Drinking Water Manufacturers’ Association counsel P S Raman said the state would first have to set up an authority on extraction of groundwater. He asked the bench for time so the association could file a review petition against the order in the high court. The bench posted the next hearing to October 7.
TIMES VIEW
    The PCB’s finding should come as a wake-up call for the government. In a land of water scarcity, the packaged water business will, no doubt, lead to a mushrooming of such units. The PCB should not wait for the National Green Tribunal’s order to inspect these places—it should be a routine exercise. The health authorities should close illegal units and ensure that others stick to safety rules of the highest standards.

Expired fruit juice products seized

Imphal, September 04 2013: Sharing details about recent seizure of fruit juice products found to have sold beyond its expiry period, Deputy Food Safety Commissioner Brojendro Khaba cautioned that sale of expired fruit juice items by some selfish traders amount to 'slow poisoning' the people of Manipur.
Speaking to newspersons at his office chamber in the Medical Directorate building today, Brojendro said executive member of Consumer Club namely Huidrom Shantikumar came across some people attending to one Laishram Tomba Meitei s/o L Gokul of Samurou after the individual complained of throat soreness and irritation moments after sipping Frooti brand fruit juice, which he had purchased from one MK Store Pan Dukan near Pologround at around 1.30 pm on August 31 .
Feeling intense irritation after taking a few sip, Tomba inspected the 500 ml bottle and realised that it has expired consumable date, said the Deputy Food Safety Commissioner who also informed that Consumer Club executive member Shantikumar accompanied by other members inspected remaining stock of the trader's godown leading to detection of more expired fruit juice packets such as Frooti, Maaza, Sprite, Limca Lime, Jumpy etc.
In addition to the fruit juice brands the Consumer Club members also detected several cartons of cooking oils which were either expired or did not bear proper labelling at the said godown, he said.
Along with impounding the unhealthy food items the said godown has been sealed.
Identifying the trader as Muna Saha (35) s/o Babul Saha from Buxar in Bihar, Brojendro said Muna named Jaganarayan (MG avenue), Manipur Traders (Thangal Bazar), SK Jain (Majorkhul), Ajit Kumar Jain (Allu Gali) and Shiva Bihari (MG avenue) as some of the agents/dealers from whom he procured the fruit juice/food items.
Among the impounded products some had no manufacture or expiry date details and the others found to be put on sale inspite of being expired, said the Deputy Food Safety Commissioner who strongly advised the general public to inspect details about date of manufacture and expiry while purchasing items.
Manufacturers of the seized items are said to be based in Satgoan (Assam), Burnihat (Meghalaya) and Vadodara (Gujarat) .
Further conveying that Muna Saha could not produce trade licence or registration documents as is mandatory for traders under the Food Safety and Standard Act, Brojendro said such a violation entails six month imprisonment as well as Rs 5 lakh penalty.
The exact term of penalty would however be decided by the Government based on the report of the Food Safety Commission, he maintained.
Additional director (Public Health) Dr S Mema Devi and Consumer club members were also present during the media briefing.

FDA confiscates 12 parcels of khoa, kalakand

PANAJI/VASCO:  FDA inspectors on Wednesday morning confiscated twelve parcels of mawa or kalakand at Vasco railway station brought from Miraj. The consignment was meant for delivery to sweet mart vendors in Vasco city. The total quantity seized was 263 kg and valued at approximately ` 40,000. 

According to information available from Food and safety officer attached to the FDA Rajiv Korde, the officials of the FDA have received information about the illegal consignment being transported through Vasco bound Hazrat Nizamuddin (Goa Express) passenger train on Tuesday. Accordingly, a five-member team led by Korde including those of food and safety officers Flavia D’Souza and Shradha Khutkar and two staff members Suresh Shirodkar and Sandeep Shilke rushed to Sanvordem railway station at around 2.30 am in order to seize the illegal materials but they could not find any. 

They later arrived at Vasco railway station where the passenger train arriving from Delhi takes the final halt in the morning. During the course of investigation, the FDA authorities noticed some parcels thrown out onto the platform. Upon investigation, it was revealed that the khoa and kalakand were packed inside the parcels. The parcels were loaded into the train at Yeshwantpur and Miraj subsequently. 

According to FDA inspectors, the railway authorities said that the parcel receipt did not carry details of the person who booked it and no name or address to whom it was meant to be delivered. 

Inspectors said that the consignment was seized because it was defective in labelling. Moreover the parcels were unclaimed.  Mawa is used in the preparation of sweets and suspect quantities of it are brought into Goa from outside prior to Ganesh Chaturthi festival. A milk based product, it spoils easily and hence transportation or storage has to be refrigerated. 

The latest FDA seizure is close on the heels of officials thwarting attempts to bring in spurious quality of mawa by traders. Some days back three raids were conducted in Ponda, Margao and Mapusa. But the vendors returned the consignment back to Belgaum. 

Meanwhile the FDA has stepped up surveillance on sweets sold in stores. Acting on a complaint on Friday, August 30 from a consumer that a sweet mart in Mapusa was selling stale kaju barfi which had foul taste and smell, safety officers immediately visited the shop and sent the sample of the sweets to a laboratory for quality assessment. The balance quantity of kaju barfi sweets was removed from the shop to prevent further sale and consumption.  According to Salim Veljee, director, FDA surprise checks show that food items which are faulty labelled are being brought from Kerala and other parts of the country into Goa.  

Goods worth almost Rs.45,000 were confiscated in raids conducted in Salcette and around ` 30,000 from Chimbel. The raids in Salcette taluka was in Margao, Navelim and Davorlim where it was found that vendors did not possess food license and also the food articles were not labelled in the manner required under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. 

FDA has advised consumers to be vigilant whilst purchase of sweets and farsan items, especially items which do not have proper and complete product details on the labels. 

Vendors have also been warned to exercise responsibility while purchasing and displaying food articles which are properly labelled in terms of manufacture date, best before use, net weight, MRP and also its nutritional label declaration. Vendors include all super markets, provision stores, Sahakar Bhandars, Bhagyatdar stores, and other  retail outlets.

FDA seizes 263 kg of mawa at Vasco railway station

PANAJI/VASCO: Mawa/kalakand weighing 263 kg and worth 40,000 brought for delivery to a sweet mart in the state was confiscated by food safety inspectors of the food and drugs administration (FDA) at the Vasco railway station on Wednesday morning.
Salim Veljee, FDA director, said that the consignment containing seven parcels of mawa did not have any label. Under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, a consignment should have a label and it should reveal the name of the manufacturer as well as the nutritional value of the product.
Such consignments containing perishable food products should be transported under refrigerated conditions to ensure that the product does not get spoilt, and there is no pilferage in the transition. The FDA has started the drive in view of the upcoming Ganesh Chaturthi festival, as a lot sweets are imported by traders from neighbouring states.
The consignment had arrived on the Miraj-Vasco rail for delivery to a dairy in Vasco. A few days ago the FDA had received a tip-off that a particular consignment was coming from Miraj. Since then FDA inspectors had been keeping a watch, he said. "The railways authorities co-operated but they too had no details.
The consignment had no name not even a reference contact number. Also, nobody came to claim the parcels," he added.
The raid was conducted by food safety officers Rajiv Korde, Flavia DeSouza and Shardha Kuttikar. The FDA will continue it's checks for a few more days.

Good bye to junk food in schools? Expert panel formed to finalise guidelines

The health ministry on Wednesday told the Delhi high court that it has formed a seven-member expert committee to finalise its recently drafted guidelines on regulating sale of junk food in and around school premises.

Research company AC Nielsen which was tasked with drafting of the guideline had suggested banning of  sandwitches, pizzas, chips, burgers, noodles, french fries, sandwiches and aerated soft drinks in schools across the country.

It said these were “junk food which contained no proteins or vitamins but were rich in salt, sugar and high in calories which can cause obesity and hypertension”.

Additional Solicitor General Rajeeve Mehra said the expert panel will have as members four members of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India-- advisor S Dave, product approval director Pradeep Chakraborty, Quality Director K Sandhya, scientist  Meenakshi Singh and one official each from HRD ministry, Health Ministry and National Institute of Nutrition.

The court is hearing a PIL filed by social activist Rahul Verma of the NGO Uday Foundation demanding ban of sale of junk food in schools. “If the guidelines are strictly implemented, children will have access only to healthy food and not those which cause obesity and other dangerous diseases”.

The panel will also hold discussions with All India Food Processors Association (AIFPA) and Restaurant Association. But the AIFPA had in its affidavit questioned the credentials of Nielsen to frame the draft guidelines.

“AC Nielsen is neither a scientific body nor does it have relevant expertise to provide advise in the area of food law. It is a consumer market research company which has no qualifications to develop scientific guidelines for improvement in safety and quality of food served to school children”, the AIFPA said .

Contending that such the company is only known for data collection, AIFPA said the health ministry guidelines failed to take into account crucial aspects related to food, nutrition, eating habits and life style and its approach was not supported by any scientific rationale.

File norms for junk food near schools in a month: HC to Centre

The Delhi High Court has allowed the Central government more time to create guidelines on regulating sale of junk food and aerated drinks in and around schools, accepting a plea for the examination of the recently formulated draft guidelines by an expert committee.

During a hearing before the High Court bench of Chief Justice NV Ramana and Justice Pradeep Nandrajog on Wednesday, amicus curiae in the case, advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul, suggested that the guidelines should be examined by an expert committee since they referred to a number of "vague" concepts as well as technical terms from the guidelines created by the World Health Organization.

"We have a seven-member expert committee. We would place the draft guidelines before the expert committee. Kindly give us four weeks," Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Rajeeve Mehra said, appearing for the Centre. The draft guidelines had last month been submitted to the court, and copies given to the amicus curiae and representatives of food processing companies, restaurants and other parties involved in the litigation. The court has now allowed the government time till December to get the guidelines analysed by the Committee.

In 2010, NGO Uday Foundation had filed a PIL seeking a ban on sale of junk food and aerated drinks in and around schools. In January last year, the court had asked the Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to frame guidelines on banning sale of junk food and aerated drinks in and around educational institutions in six months. The court had also asked FSSAI to consult the All India Food Processors' Association (AIFPA) and restaurant associations for framing the guidelines. The draft guidelines were framed after a delay of nearly a year.

During the hearing, senior advocate A M Singhvi, appearing for one of the parties, opposed the draft guidelines, since they had been framed by private firm AC Nielsen QRG-MARG Pvt Ltd on the basis of a survey of over 600 schools, and analysis of the data collected. "The term junk food is a subjective term. A food item may be junk food for one and may not be for others," Singhvi said.

"There are suggestions such as 'schools may be encouraged to grow leafy vegetables', what is this? Schools in the urban areas don't have enough space," Singhvi said. Another proposed guideline under attack by the lawyers was to ban sale of junk food within 500 metres of a school. "Junk food is everywhere today. Will you close down main markets close to schools?" Singhvi said.

JMC penalises defaulters for food adulteration

Jammu Tawi, September 4
Continuing the drive against the menace of adulteration, the Health Officer Jammu Municipal Corporation, Dr Vinod Sharma along-with a team of Food Safety Officers, Assistant Sanitation Officers, Sanitary Inspectors and other field staff conducted an extensive tour in the areas like Nanak Nagar, Preet Nagar, Digiana etc. Jammu City today on 04/09/2013 to check the quality of commonly used food items to the general public inspected various food establishments like Meat shops, Vegetables Shops, Fruits Shops, Halwai Shops etc and compounding fee of Rs 12,200/- was also realised from defaulters and about 15 kg of polythene was seized.
Moreover 02 (two) food samples of Paneer and two samples of carbonated beverage water were also lifted from different parts of Jammu city like Janki Vihar, Roop Nagar & Industrial Area Gangyal, and sent to Public Analyst Jammu for ascertaining their standard of purity.
During the round citizens were advised not to smoke in the public places as it is injurious to health, a fine of Rs 200 would be imposed to those not adhering to the norms. All the food establishment owners were asked to adhere to the terms & conditions of FSS Act 2006 & keep their premises neat & clean for ensuring supply of pure & good quality of food items to the customers. All the business owners are also instructed not to use polythene bags which is in long run injurious to health, can cause Cancer & impotency.

குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்களுக்கு அக். 7 வரை பசுமை தீர்ப்பாயம் கெடு!

சென்னை: சென்னை உயர் நீதிமன்றத்தின் விதிமுறைகளை அமல்படுத்த  குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்கள் அவகாகம் கேட்டதை தொடர்ந்து, அக்டோபர் 7ஆம் தேதி வரை பசுமை தீர்ப்பாயம் கெடு விதித்துள்ளது.
குடிநீர் சப்ளை செய்யும் நிறுவனங்கள், சுகாதாரமற்ற குடிநீரை வழங்குவதாக கூறி தாமாகவே முன் வந்து பசுமை தீர்ப்பாயம் வழக்குப் பதிவு செய்து விசாரணை செய்தது. இதையடுத்து, 300க்கும் மேற்பட்ட குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்களுக்கு சீல் வைக்க உத்தரவிட்டது.
இந்த உத்தரவை எதிர்த்து குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்கள் சென்னை உயர் நீதிமன்றத்தில் மேல்முறையீடு செய்தன. இந்த மனுவை விசாரித்த உயர் நீதிமன்றம், சில விதிமுறைகளை அமல்படுத்த உத்தரவிட்டது.

இந்நிலையில்,இந்த வழக்கு சென்னை பசுமைத் தீர்ப்பாயம் நீதிபதி சொக்கலிங்கம் முன்பு இன்று விசாரணைக்கு வந்தது. அப்போது, சென்னை உயர் நீதிமன்றம் பிறப்பித்த விதிமுறைகளை அமல்படுத்த அவகாசம் தேவை என்று குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்கள் சார்பில் தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டது.
இதையடுத்து, அக்டோபர் 7ஆம் தேதி வரை அவகாசம் அளித்த நீதிபதி, அதுவரை நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க வேண்டாம் என தமிழ்நாடு மாசுகட்டுப்பாட்டு வாரியத்துக்கு உத்தரவிட்டார்.

Centre allowed to get junkfood guidelines examined by experts

The Centre's plea that a committee would examine guidelines on regulating sale of junk food and aerated drinks in and around schools premises was allowed.

 

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court today allowed the Centre's plea that an expert committee would examine its recently-drafted guidelines on regulating sale of junk food and aerated drinks in and around schools premises.
"We have a seven-member expert committee. We would place the draft guidelines (on junk food) before the expert committee. Kindly give us four weeks time," Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Rajeeve Mehra, appearing for the Centre, told a bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana.
The bench, also comprising Justice Pradeep Nandrajog, allowed the plea of the Centre and said that in the meantime, private parties like the Restaurants Association may file their representations to the expert committee on the issue.
During the hearing, senior advocate A M Singhvi, appearing for one of the parties, opposed the draft guidelines of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) saying that private firm AC Nielsen QRG-MARG Pvt Ltd cannot be allowed to frame them.
"At best, it (AC Nielsen QRG-MARG Pvt Ltd) can collect the data, but it cannot frame guidelines," he said. Similar plea was taken up by another senior lawyer Ashok Desai who said that the Food Safety and Standards Act has a specific provision and a private body cannot do this.
"The term junk food is a subjective term. A food item may be junk food for one and may not be for others," Singhvi said.
"Such submissions would derail the process. The issue raised in the PIL goes beyond the Act (Food Safety and Standards Act)," the bench said.
"We are looking at health issues. Obesity and even hypertension are becoming prevalent among children. We are aping the West," the ASG said.
Earlier, the court had given a 10-day deadline to the Centre to come out with detailed guidelines for regulating sale of junk food and aerated drinks in and around schools. 

MAALAI MALAR NEWS

Nine packaged water units face closure in Salem

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued notice to nine packaged drinking water units in the district asking them to stop production within seven days or face closure.

This comes in the wake of the direction from the National Green Tribunal that ordered the closure of units functioning without obtaining product approval and ISI certification.

Drinking water

These units were producing packaged drinking water and operating under the guise of flavoured water or herbal water in Salem, Kadayampatti, Ayothiapattanam, Attur and Tharamangalam. T. Anuradha, District Designated Officer, Food Safety and Health Administration Department told The Hindu that notices were issued to the units under Section 26, 27, 33, 36 (3) (a) (b) (l) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

She added that the firms have to get their products approved by the FSSAI and also obtain no-objection certificate (NOC) to operate their units.

Expenses

Officials said that the expenses for ISI certification could be around Rs. 2 lakh per year and hence these units get licence from associations.

FDA seizes eatables with faulty labels

Director cautions vendors and public to insist on labels and quality

A regular surveillance by the Directorate of Food & Drugs Administration (FDA) ahead of the Ganesh festival have intercepted consignments of food and other products with faulty labelling and misbranding brought from Kerala and other parts of the country into the State.

FDA Director Salim Veljee said on Tuesday that they conducted the surveillance in the last week of August.

The FDA warned the food business community that food vendors should exercise their responsibility to purchase and display only those food articles that are properly labelled in terms of manufacturing date, best before use, net weight, MRP and nutritional label.

Mr. Veljee also advised all consumers to remain vigilant while purchasing such sweets and snacks (farsan), and to refrain from purchasing food articles that do not bear proper and complete product labelling.

During this special drive, the Food Safety officers also kept a strict vigilance over the ‘mawa/kalakand’ arriving in Goa from Belgaum, which is used in the preparation of sweets. This is brought via railways or bus routes.

The FDA Director said that three special raids were conducted in Ponda, Margao (south Goa) and Mapusa (north Goa) based on tips about arrival of suspected quality ‘mawa’ into the State. However, the vendors returned the consignment to Belgaum, said Mr. Veljee. He was happy that the FDA ensured the consignment did not arrive into the State. FDA’s surveillance of such suspected activities will continue on certain vendors to foil their malpractice attempts, said Mr. Veljee.

In several raids conduced by FDA in Margao/Navelim/Davorlim Salcette (south Goa) as well as in Chimbel in Tiswadi (north Goa) ahead of the Ganesh festival, huge quantity of ‘farsan’ and sealed food articles were confiscated from vendors who did not posses food licence. Food articles that were not labelled as prescribed by the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 and the Rules/Regulation 2011.

Mr. Veljee said that goods worth almost Rs. 45,000 were confiscated in Salcette raids and around Rs. 30,000 in the Chimbel raids.

Cautioning the food vendors, he said they should insist that their suppliers produce their food licence granted under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 before accepting and stocking/displaying their food articles for re-sale to consumers.

The FDA has insisted that such practice be strictly adopted by all supermarkets, provision stores, Sahakar Bhandars, Bhagyadar stores, and other retail outlets.

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Food Safety officers are keeping a strict vigilance over the ‘mawa’ coming from Belgaum

Farsan and sealed food articles are seized from vendors who did not have licences

Annapure takes over as jt. commissioner, food, Greater Mumbai Division

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Maharashtra, has appointed Suresh Annapure as new joint commissioner, food, for Greater Mumbai Division, in the place of Suresh Deshmukh, joint commissioner, food.

Deshmukh has been transferred to Amravati while Annapure has been transferred from Nagpur to Mumbai.
The new joint commissioner, food, had a brief chat with FnB News on Monday. With regard to the number of licensing and registrations undertaken in his area under the Food Safety & Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011, he informed, “Till date we have issued 21,885 licences and completed 26,719 registrations.”
When asked, whether FDA, Maharashtra, would be able to complete the process of licensing and registration in the state before the deadline of February 4, 2014, he stated, “Already the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has extended the deadline thrice. But I hope that with the help of NGOs in Maharashtra we will be able to complete the registration and licensing well on time.”

DINAMALAR NEWS

அனுமதியில்லாத ஹெர்பல் மற்றும் பிளேவர்டு குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்களை மூட அரசு உத்தரவு

மாநிலம் முழுவதும் அனுமதியின்றி செயல்படும், "ஹெர்பல்,பிளேவர்டு' குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்களை இழுத்து மூட, தமிழக அரசு உத்தரவிட்டு உள்ளது. உணவுபாதுகாப்புத் துறை மூலம், "நோட்டீஸ்' வினியோகிக்கும் பணி துவங்கிஉள்ளது. தனியார் குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்களில் இருந்து, விற்பனைக்கு அனுப்பும் குடிநீர், தரமானது இல்லை என, தெரிய வந்ததால், தென்மண்டல பசுமைத் தீர்ப்பாயம் தானாக முன் வந்து, வழக்கு பதிந்து, விசாரித்து வருகிறது. இதில், தமிழகம் முழுவதும், ஐ.எஸ்.ஐ., உரிமம் பெறாத நிறுவனங்கள் மீது, நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்பட்டு வருகிறது. மாநிலம் முழுவதும் உள்ள நிறுவனங்களில், குடிநீர் மாதிரிகள் எடுத்து பரிசோதிக்க, பசுமைத் தீர்ப்பாயம் உத்தர விட்டு உள்ளது. இது தவிர, "ஹெர்பல், பிளேவர்டு' குடிநீர் என்ற பெயரில், மத்திய உணவு பாதுகாப்புத் துறையின் அனுமதியின்றி, ஏராளமான குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்கள் செயல்பட்டு வருகின்றன. இந்த நிறுவனங்கள் மீதும் நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க, பசுமைத் தீர்ப்பாயம் உத்தரவிட்டது. கடந்த முறை நடந்த விசாரணையின்போது, குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்களின் மாதிரிகள் எடுக்காதது குறித்து, மாசுக் கட்டுப்பாட்டு வாரிய அதிகாரிகளை, தீர்ப்பாயம் கண்டித்தது. அதனால், அனுமதியின்றி செயல்படும், "ஹெர்பல், பிளேவர்டு' குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்களை இழுத்து மூட, தமிழக அரசு உத்தரவிட்டு உள்ளது. உணவு பாதுகாப்புத் துறை மூலம், இதற்கான
நடவடிக்கைகள் முடுக்கி விடப்பட்டு உள்ளன. உணவு பாதுகாப்புத் துறையின் மாவட்ட நியமன அலுவலர்களுக்கு, இதுகுறித்த தகவல்கள், அவசர அவசரமாக அனுப்பி வைக்கப்பட்டு உள்ளன. இதன்படி, ஒரு வாரத்தில் மூட வேண்டும் என, "நோட்டீஸ்' வினியோகிக்கும் பணி நேற்று துவங்கியுள்ளது.
குடிநீர் நிறுவனங்கள் தொடர்பான வழக்குகள், பசுமைத் தீர்ப்பாயத்தில் இன்று விசாரணைக்கு வரும் நிலையில், அரசுஅதிரடி நடவடிக்கை எடுத்து ள்ளது குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது.

As festivals near, FDA Maharashtra to crack down on sweet adulteration

With the festive season round the corner, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Maharashtra has already embarked upon drive to curb adulteration in milk and sweets. Addressing a press conference at the state food regulator's headquarters in Mumbai on Monday, Suresh Annapure, who was recently appointed joint commissioner (Greater Mumbai), food, said the people of Maharashtra can expect an adulteration-free festive season this year.
Between July 20, 2013 and now, FDA Maharashtra's Greater Mumbai division has conducted raids on the premises of 186 food business operators (FBOs), seized adulterated food worth Rs 32, 39, 333 lakh, and fined 22 FBOs for violating the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006 and Regulations (FSSR), 2011. First information reports (FIR) have been filed against 20 FBOs in various police stations in the city.
Annapure said, “With the help of the Worli Milk unit, I, along with S K Shere, joint commissioner, food, Thane district, and other officers initiated a drive to check up adulterated milk at all the five check nakas in Mumbai recently. Overall, we collected more than four lakh litre of milk from 113 milk vehicles on the spot. Our officials found that about 2,103 litres of milk did not adhere to FSSA, and that was the reason it was sent back.”
“Three samples of milk were sent to laboratories for testing. In a single raid organised on milk vendors who sell milk through bicycle at the doorsteps of consumers, we found a case of tampering in Borivali, and we filed a case against him. He was arrested soon by the Borivali police station. In order to curb the adulteration of sweets, we are doing regular check-ups at all sweet shops in Mumbai. This year, we will ensure a safe festive season for all the people of Mumbai,” he said.
Annapure informed, “Since sweets are consumed in large quantities during Ganeshotsav, Navratri, Dussehra and Diwali, we are distributing handbills to the people about precautions and guidance required to be taken at large while buying and consuming the sweets and milk and milk products. Any consumers who find FBOs not following FSSA and indulging in adulteration can call our helpline (number: 1800-11-2100) any time, and action will be taken against the offenders within 24 hours.”
The following are the precautions:

• While buying sweets, milk and milk products, one should ensure that they are fresh, properly labelled and sold in a packaged condition;
• As far as possible, do not buy sweets, milk or milk products without a purchase bill or guarantee;
• Do not buy sweets which are not stored or manufactured in hygienic conditions;
• Sweets prepared from mawa (khoya) must be consumed within 24 hours and stored under proper refrigeration. Mawa should be purchased only from registered or licensed premises;
• Bengali and the related sweet items should be consumed within eight to ten hours from the time of purchase;
• If fungus is observed on the sweets, it should not be consumed and destroyed immediately, and
• If the sweets are spoiled and there is a difference in the taste, it should not be consumed.

Mumbai: Choose the right shops to buy sweets during festival: FDA

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has renewed its drive against adulteration in sweets and it has cautioned citizens to be careful when purchasing and consuming sweets during the Ganesh festival that kicks off next week.

“During the festivities, people consume tempting milk-based sweets without checking if the ingredients used, like khoya, ghee and oil, are pure,” said Suresh Annapure, joint commissioner (food), FDA. “Besides this, adulteration of grains, tea, sugar, rawa is also rampant at grocery shops.

So if consumers suspect adulteration of food items they should lodge their complaints with the FDA through out interactive voice response system.”

The authority announced on Monday that four vigilance squads headed by food safety officers had been constituted to check samples of khoya at major railway stations (Kurla Junction, Mumbai Central, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and Bandra Terminus) as it has been found in the past that adulterated khoya is brought in to the city from outside Maharashtra.

“On-the-spot testing of ingredients and sweets is underway in the continuing action initiated by the FDA. The food inspectors are also conducting valuation of khoya based on the price of milk and the amount of fuel and labour used to prepare it. If shopkeepers sell khoya or khoya-based sweets at a price lower than this valuation, they will be continually on the FDA’s radar for suspected malpractices,” Annapure said.

'No unhygenic sweets this Chovoth'

PANAJI: Take a closer look while stocking up on sweets and farsan goodies this Ganesh Utsav -a time when the peddling of poor-quality foodstuffs is rampant, the state food and drug administration (FDA) has warned food vendors.
Stepping up its surveillance ahead of the festive season, the FDA has cast a net to nab groups bringing in adulterated, unhygenically-stored or stale foodstuff.
"Farsan-related items worth 75,000 have been confiscated during raids conducted at Margao, Navelim, Davorlim and Chimbel. Our officers found that some groups had procured large quantities of savoury snacks and were packing them with labels that claimed the food items were from Kerala and Hyderabad. In reality, we don't know where these snacks were made, and its quality was suspect," said FDA director Salim Veljee.
Apart from unlabelled farsan, the authorities also received tip-offs of a group involved in transporting 'mawa', or 'kalakhand' from Belgaum to Goa, to make sweets. Officers were posted at railway stations and bus routes, to weed out any unlicensed consignments of sweets. "These milk products were not being stored properly and could be potentially dangerous; we made sure that the consignment did not enter Goa," he added. Acting upon a complaint about foul-smelling 'kaju barfi' on sale at a sweetmart in Mapusa, food safety officers raided the shop and took the entire batch of sweets off the shelves.
The FDA also collected 26 samples from various suppliers across Goa, and tested the 'barfi', 'kaju barfi', 'pedha', 'malai barfi', 'ladoo', 'shev', 'chivda', 'shankarpali', 'wafers', 'besan ladoo', and sweets containing silver foil. "We found the samples to be of standard quality," Veljee said.
"Food vendors should also exercise their responsibility of purchasing and displaying only those food articles which are properly labelled in terms of manufacturing date, expiry date, net weight, MRP, ingredients and nutritional label declaration. Whether the item is branded or not, they should carry this information," Veljee said.

Permit cleaning of tainted pepper stocks: NCDEX

Mumbai, Sept 3:  

The National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange has requested the Government authorities to allow market participants to improve the quality of pepper stocks at its six accredited warehouses that were found to contain carcinogenic mineral oil.

Industry players have informed the exchange that farmers and traders adopt various methods to preserve pepper, including by addition of small quantity of mineral oil as a fungicide. Traders routinely use a process of steaming to later remove the mineral oil coating.

Since the traces of mineral oil appear to reflect long-standing industry practice, the exchange has sought the Government intervention in the industry’s interest to give an opportunity to remove the mineral oil coating and improve the quality, said NCDEX in a press release.

Earlier, acting on complaint filed by traders, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India order for destruction of 93 lots found with mineral oil traces. The Kalimirchi Vyapari Association, which has to receive delivery of 7,000 tonnes worth Rs 300 crore, has filed a writ petition against the exchange in the Madhya Pradesh High Court. The matter is expected to come up for hearing on September 17. In fact, it said, most of the stocks in the six warehouses sealed by the authorities were bought by the holders in the off-market transactions outside the exchange platform.

“The Exchange only provides a trading platform for trading in forward contracts. It does not own, deposit or deal with the goods in the warehouses,” it said. Pradeep Acharya, Vice-President, Kalimirichi Vyapari Association, said the exchange cannot deny responsibility. According to bylaws of the Exchange and as stated by the regulator FMC, the exchange is the counter party to every buyer and seller.

NCDEX seeks govt intervention to maintain quality of pepper

Mumbai, Sept 3:  

Leading national commodity exchange NCDEX today sought government intervention in allowing market participants to improve the quality of pepper stocks for compliance with food safety laws.

“Since the traces of mineral oil appear to reflect long standing industry practice, the Exchange will seek government intervention in the interests of industry and recommend that holders of the stock and the market participants should be given an opportunity to remove mineral oil coating and improve quality,” NCDEX said in a statement.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had seized stocks of pepper lying in six warehouses accredited by NCDEX in December, 2012, in response to a complaint from one of the buyers that the pepper contained mineral oil, which is not permitted under the FSSAI Act.

Since then, the FSSAI has been testing the goods with help from the Spices Board and the Exchange.

The FSSAI has now issued an order for destruction of 93 lots found with mineral oil traces.

Taking cognisance of the order, the respective owners have accordingly been informed to take up the matter with the FSSAI and take appropriate action, it said.

Specific lots that have been found to meet the FSSAI standards are to be released to the respective owners as per the order.

The Exchange, it said, has always ensured delivery of commodities in accordance with its contract specifications.

The NCDEX does not have any liability regarding these stocks, it said.

The Exchange is also not liable for non-compliance by any member and market participant with all applicable laws on the underlying commodity.

In fact, most of the stocks in the godowns sealed by the FSSAI authorities were bought by the holders in off-market transactions outside the Exchange platform.

It further said, NCDEX only provides a trading platform for trading in forward contracts. It does not own, deposit or deal with the goods in the warehouses.

Industry players have informed the Exchange that farmers or traders engaged in cultivation, production and trading of pepper adopt various methods to preserve the spice, including by addition of small quantity of mineral oil as a fungicide, it said.

Traders routinely use a process of steaming to later remove the mineral oil coating, it added.

Traders, NCDEX locked in a spicy fight over pepper

Pepper traders, faced with the prospect of having to destroy black pepper worth around `300-crore, traded on NCDEX and found to be adulterated with carcinogenic mineral oils, have disowned responsibility for the stock and are up in arms against the Commodity Exchange.
The Food and Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) under the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry had recently found that over 90 per cent of the stock in NCDEX’s warehouses at Kochi is adulterated and has sealed the stock. FSSAI has also observed that quality control systems were not followed and that the District Food Safety Officer should conduct a detailed investigation so that actions could be initiated against the culprits. The Kalimirchi Vyapari Association, fighting for either refund of the money paid or delivery of 7,000 tonnes of Malabar Garbled 1 Black Pepper as per the futures contract with NCDEX, said the Exchange cannot simply wash their hands by saying that it does not have any responsibility.
“NCDEX cannot deny responsibility. As per bylaws of the Exchange and as stated by the regulator FMC, the Exchange is the counter party to every buyer and seller. This clearly establishes that the Exchange stands as the seller for every buyer, and buyer for every seller,” said Pradeep Acharya, Vice President of the association.
He added that the traders have paid NCDEX full money for pepper and it is the responsibility of the Exchange to provide the stock.
Brokers and exporters who paid the money in advance to NCDEX are at a loss as the Exchange has refused to either refund the money or deliver the goods.

 The Kalimirchi Vyapari Association has moved Madhya Pradesh High Court seeking urgent justice and the hearing has been scheduled on September 17. Members of KVA have also written to the Health Ministry, the Forward Markets Commission (FMC), the Consumer Affairs Minister and the Kerala CM, drawing their attention to the matter.

Mineral oil in pepper: NCDEX statement

NCDEX has requested Government authorities in the interest of Pepper industry in Kerala



NCDEX, the leading national commodity exchange, has requested Government authorities in the interest of Pepper industry in Kerala to consider allowing market participants to improve the quality of pepper stocks for compliance with food safety laws.
FSSAI had seized stocks of Pepper lying in six warehouses accredited NCDEX in December 2012. The stocks were seized in response to a complaint from one of the buyers that the Pepper contained mineral oil, which is not permitted under the FSSAI Act. Since then the FSSAI has been testing the goods with help from the Spices Board and the Exchange. The FSSAI has now issued an order for destruction of 93 lots found with mineral oil traces. Taking cognizance of the order, the respective owners have accordingly been informed to take up the matter with the FSSA and take appropriate action. Specific lots that have been found to meet the FSSA standards are to be released to the respective owners as per the order.
The Exchange has always ensured delivery of commodities in accordance with its contract specifications. NCDEX does not have any liability regarding these stocks. The Exchange is also not liable for non-compliance by any member and market participant with all applicable laws on the underlying commodity. In fact, most of the stocks in the godowns sealed by the FSSAI authorities were bought by the holders in off-market transactions outside the Exchange platform.
The Exchange only provides a trading platform for trading in forward contracts. It does not own, deposit or deal with the goods in the warehouses.
Industry players have informed the Exchange that farmers/traders engaged in cultivation, production and trading of Pepper adopt various methods to preserve Pepper, including by addition of small quantity of mineral oil as a fungicide. Traders routinely use a process of steaming to later remove the mineral oil coating.
Since the traces of mineral oil appear to reflect long-standing industry practice, the Exchange will seek Government intervention in the interests of industry and recommend that holders of the stock and the market participants should be given an opportunity to remove the mineral oil coating and improve quality.
Pepper is an important agricultural commodity, involving lakhs of farmers, traders, processors and exporters particularly in Kerala. It is hence paramount that while the food safety needs to be ensured, the economy of the state and the growers / traders are not affected adversely, more so when rectification of the commodity is possible by industry practice.
M/s Betul Oils Ltd. along with certain related entities (also one of the members of Kalimirchi Vyapari Association with regard to Pepper) was found engaged in certain irregular trading practices in violation of Exchange Circulars and FMC guidelines while dealing in Guar Gum and Guar Seed Contracts, for which, the Exchange issued Show Cause Notices (SCN).
The said M/s Betul Oils Ltd instead of responding to the SCNs challenged the authority of the Exchange and FMC to issue the SCN, by a Writ Petition (No.3621/2013) before the Hon’ble High Court of Madhya Pradesh at Indore which was dismissed. On appeal by Betul (appeal No. 582 of 2013), the Court directed them to respond to the SCN. Once again, Betul filed a review petition (No. 293 of 2013) which was also dismissed. Betul again filed an SLP (No. 19786-19787 of 2013) in Supreme Court against this order, where Supreme Court also while allowing withdrawal of petition at the request of Betul, directed Betul to respond to the SCN while granting them opportunity to approach appropriate Court if aggrieved by any order by the SCN issuing authority.